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Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-02-18 at 07:01
Published 1 week, 4 days ago
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HEADLINES
Tension climbs as US-Israel eye Iran campaign
Temple Mount Ramadan allows 10,000 daily
Prosecutors block delay of senior officer promotion
The time is now 7:01 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.
In the conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, the United States is drawing closer to a potential confrontation, with Axios reporting that a broader weeks‑long campaign could begin very soon and that such a campaign would likely be a joint US‑Israeli operation with broader scope than last year’s 12‑day war. The reporting notes that despite meetings between US envoys and Iran’s foreign minister that both sides characterized as progress, US officials remain skeptical about closing the remaining gaps, and sources say the administration is prepared to act if talks fail. The narration also points to a continued buildup of American forces in the region as a backstop to diplomacy, with some officials suggesting the president could decide diplomacy had reached its natural end even as discussions continue. In parallel, Kurdish regional voices are elevating a strategy they say could influence the broader balance, arguing that national security would come from an Israeli‑Kurdish alignment aimed at changing the regional dynamics from within, with emphasis on Kurdish communities across Syria and neighboring states and warnings about Turkish operations and remnants of extremist groups. A former Israeli military intelligence chief cautioned that while the situation is markedly closer to conflict than before, a superpower does not move to war in days and there remains a diplomatic path to exhaust, even as progress is claimed in talks and Iran’s foreign minister says there is an understanding on the key issues.
In the Disputed Territories (Gaza, Judea and Samaria, East Jerusalem), the latest note from the Israeli security apparatus centers on Ramadan access to sacred sites. The IDF’s Coordination of Government Activities in the Territories announced that up to 10,000 Palestinians per day will be allowed to visit the Temple Mount during the Muslim month of Ramadan, with age restrictions, mandatory digital documentation at crossings, and entry subject to security approval. Ramadan runs from Tuesday through March 19, and the framework aims to balance freedom of worship with security considerations, enabling Friday prayers at the Temple Mount for the Ramadan period while maintaining stability.
In Israeli Domestic Politics, several high‑profile developments shape the current political landscape. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said that while women should contribute to Israeli society in many roles, the military is not a place for them and he would not advise his daughter to enlist. He also criticized Economy Minister Nir Barkat, arguing that Barkat’s remarks about listing companies on the stock exchange show a lack of understanding about economics, and he defended his own stance in a clash with a fellow member of the Knesset. Opposition leader Yair Lapid rejected the idea of a merger between his Yesh Atid party and the Democrats, saying the split with Yair Golan mirrors the gap with Prime Minister Netanyahu and stressing that the center is a distinct political position with its own worldview. On security governance, prosecutors formally opposed National Security Minister Itamar Ben‑Gvir’s request to delay a court ruling requiring the promotion of a senior officer, arguing that further postponement would undermine police independence and that the promotion should be granted without delay. Separately, the Knesset Education Committee is pressing to create the Early Childhood Authority within the Education Ministry to centralize oversight of daycare centers, aiming to manage responsibilities from birth to age three and to align supervision, licensing, subsidies, and policy under a single body within the ministry.
In Uplifti
Tension climbs as US-Israel eye Iran campaign
Temple Mount Ramadan allows 10,000 daily
Prosecutors block delay of senior officer promotion
The time is now 7:01 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.
In the conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, the United States is drawing closer to a potential confrontation, with Axios reporting that a broader weeks‑long campaign could begin very soon and that such a campaign would likely be a joint US‑Israeli operation with broader scope than last year’s 12‑day war. The reporting notes that despite meetings between US envoys and Iran’s foreign minister that both sides characterized as progress, US officials remain skeptical about closing the remaining gaps, and sources say the administration is prepared to act if talks fail. The narration also points to a continued buildup of American forces in the region as a backstop to diplomacy, with some officials suggesting the president could decide diplomacy had reached its natural end even as discussions continue. In parallel, Kurdish regional voices are elevating a strategy they say could influence the broader balance, arguing that national security would come from an Israeli‑Kurdish alignment aimed at changing the regional dynamics from within, with emphasis on Kurdish communities across Syria and neighboring states and warnings about Turkish operations and remnants of extremist groups. A former Israeli military intelligence chief cautioned that while the situation is markedly closer to conflict than before, a superpower does not move to war in days and there remains a diplomatic path to exhaust, even as progress is claimed in talks and Iran’s foreign minister says there is an understanding on the key issues.
In the Disputed Territories (Gaza, Judea and Samaria, East Jerusalem), the latest note from the Israeli security apparatus centers on Ramadan access to sacred sites. The IDF’s Coordination of Government Activities in the Territories announced that up to 10,000 Palestinians per day will be allowed to visit the Temple Mount during the Muslim month of Ramadan, with age restrictions, mandatory digital documentation at crossings, and entry subject to security approval. Ramadan runs from Tuesday through March 19, and the framework aims to balance freedom of worship with security considerations, enabling Friday prayers at the Temple Mount for the Ramadan period while maintaining stability.
In Israeli Domestic Politics, several high‑profile developments shape the current political landscape. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said that while women should contribute to Israeli society in many roles, the military is not a place for them and he would not advise his daughter to enlist. He also criticized Economy Minister Nir Barkat, arguing that Barkat’s remarks about listing companies on the stock exchange show a lack of understanding about economics, and he defended his own stance in a clash with a fellow member of the Knesset. Opposition leader Yair Lapid rejected the idea of a merger between his Yesh Atid party and the Democrats, saying the split with Yair Golan mirrors the gap with Prime Minister Netanyahu and stressing that the center is a distinct political position with its own worldview. On security governance, prosecutors formally opposed National Security Minister Itamar Ben‑Gvir’s request to delay a court ruling requiring the promotion of a senior officer, arguing that further postponement would undermine police independence and that the promotion should be granted without delay. Separately, the Knesset Education Committee is pressing to create the Early Childhood Authority within the Education Ministry to centralize oversight of daycare centers, aiming to manage responsibilities from birth to age three and to align supervision, licensing, subsidies, and policy under a single body within the ministry.
In Uplifti